Crossover protection apparatus



Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES or Fl CE CROSSOVERPROTECTIONAPPARATUS Robert M. Gilson; .Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to WestinghouseAir Brake-Company; a corpora.-.

tion of Pennsylvania My invention relates tocrossover-protection'apparatus, and particularly to apparatus .forproviding crossover protection for trains :moving along railway trackswhich are connected with each other by a crossover track through handoperated track switches.

A requisite for crossover protection apparatus is that it must be soarranged that a car or locomotive while occupying a crossover, such forexample as one connecting two main tracks, while the switches are in thenormal position fortrain movements along the main tracks will cause asignal for each main track to indicatestop if the car or locomotive iswithin fouling distance of that main track. schemes embodying trackcircuits, as nearly as possible every portion of 'the track rails shouldbe connected in series in the track circuits in order to provide themaximum broken'rail protection.

One feature of my invention is the provision of crossover track circuitsextending nearly to the heels of the switches, thereby reducing to aminimum the space a car or locomotive can occupy on a crossover trackwithout shunting one or the other of these track circuits.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of means forincluding in series, in the main track circuits, the rails in the maintracks adjacent the frogs.

I shall describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and shallthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form ofapparatus embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, a stretch of railway is shown comprisin twoparallel tracks, designated :by the reference characters IT and. 21,

connected with each other by a crossover. track designated by thereference character 3T, through hand operated switches IW and 2W. TrackST is divided, by means of insulated joints 4, into two sections ab andb-c.

The insulated joints 4 in crossover track 3T at the points a and c areplaced close-to the heels of the switches. The distance between thesejoints and the heels of the switches may for example be approximatelysix feet, with a distance of sixteen feet between the heel and point ofeach switch. The total distance between the point a or c and theassociated switch point would therefore be twenty-two feet.

In crossover protection Atrack circuit is provided for each'of thesections a-b and 12-0, each including a suitable source of current suchfor example as-a battery 5 connected through a usualresistor-Iiacrossthe rails adjacent one end of the section, panda .trackrails-breach main track IT and 2T between-the frog-and heel for theswitch at the corresponding end-"o-f'the crossover track 3T. Adjacenteach of these two pairs of insulated joints is a jumper 1' one end ofwhich is connected with the fro rail of the associated-*main track onthe side of the pair of insulated join-ts which is toward 'the switchand the other end-of which is connected with the other rail "oftheassociated main track on the opposite" side of the pair of insulatedjoints.

Another insulated joint 4 is located in a rail ofth'e crossover track 3Tadjacentthe frog and between the rails of each main track. One endof'a'jumper 8 is connected with the rail of the crossover track 3Tadjacent and'on the side of each of these two insulated joints which isaway from the adjacent frog. The other end Of each jumper 8 is connectedwith the frog rail adjacent the pair of insulated joints 4 of theasso--ciated main track and on the side toward the frog. By use of the twoinsulated joints, one adjacent-each frog; and the jumpers 8, the'portionof "the frog rail ofeach of the'main tracks IT'andZT between the frogand the pair of insulated jointsin each main track is connectedin'series with other portions of the main track rails for use in a trackcircuit for the corresponding main track.

The -rails ofmaintrack IT are arranged for a trackcircuit to pass fromthe stock rail Ia of track I'I adjacent switch I W, through rail 3a oftrack.i3T', jumper 8:, rail lb of track IT, and'returningthroug'hrail Iaof track IT, jumper l. and-rail I'b'of track IT. The arrangement ofrails 2a and"2b of track 2T for a track circuit is-similar to that justtraced for track IT.

The'irailsiof'each of the main tracks IT and 2'1: maybe dividedrbyinsulated joints, shown for examplerasjointsIt-for track 2T, to .forma-main track section ,including the "switch at the correspondingaend oftrack .3T. A track circuit for each of "these maintrack sections,similarly to the track circuits for sections a-b and b-c, may

include? a suitable source of current, such for example-asiat batteryI4, connectedthrough a usual resistor'li' 'a'crossttherails adjacent oneend of thesection, and a track relay, such as relay I 5R,connected-across the rails-adjacent the opposite end of'the section.

Theaitracka circuitt-ifor"mainiftrack. 2T would 3 then pass from batteryI4, through a resistor 6, rail 2b of track '2T, rail 31) of track 3T,jumper 8, rail 2a of track 2T, winding of relay I5R, rail 2!) of track2T, jumper I, and rail 2a of track 2T, back to battery I4. The circuitfor controlling traflic governing means, such for example as a signal,for track 2T, may include contact I6 of relay I5R, as well as thecontacts II and I2 of relays IR and 2B.

The crossover track circuit which includes relay IR passes from battery5, shown adjacent switch IW, through resistor 6, rail 3b of track 3T,winding of relay IR, rail 3a of track 3T, frog for switch IW, rail lb oftrack IT, jumper 8, and rail 3a of track 3T, back to battery 5. Thecrossover track circuit which includes relay 2R is similar to the trackcircuit just traced for relay IR.

From the foregoing description, it follows that, whenever a car orlocomotive occupies any part of crossover track 3T between the points aand u 0, one or both of the track relays IR and 2B will be deenergized,causing signals for both main tracks IT and 2T to indicate stop; thatall parts of the rails. between the points a and 0, except one toe ofeach frog, are included in series in the crossover track circuits; andthat, by the use of jumpers 8 and the insulated joints 4 adjacent thefrogs, the portions of the rails adjacent the frogs, in the main tracks,are connected in series with other rails for use in main track circuits.

Although I have herein shown and described I only one form of apparatusembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover trackinterconnecting two main tracks is divided into two sections insulatedfrom each other and extending in opposite directions from a mid point ofthe crossover, and in which each of said main tracks is divided to forma main track section including the switch at the corresponding end ofsaid crossover track, the combination comprising, an insulated joint ineach rail of said crossover track between said main tracks one adjacentthe heel of the switch at one end of said crossover track and the otheradjacent the heel of the switch at the other end of said crossovertrack, two pairs of insulated joints, one pair for each of said maintracks and one joint of each of said pairs located in the frog side ofits main track section at a point between the frog and the heel of theswitch at its end of said crossover track and the other joint of each ofsaid pairs located nearby in the opposite side of its main tracksection, a jumper adjacent each of said pairs of insulated joints oneend of which is connected with the frog side of its main track sectionbetween its pair of insulated joints and its switch and the other end ofwhich is connected with the other rail of its main track section on theopposite side of its pair of insulated joints for arranging the rails ofits main track in conjunction with its pair of insulated joints for amain track circuit for controlling trafic movements adjacent theassociated switch, a track circuit for each of said sections eachincluding the rails of its section, and traffic control means controlledby said track circuits.

2. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover trackinterconnecting two main tracks is divided intotwo sections insulatedfrom each other and extending in opposite directions from a mid point ofthe crossover, and in which one of said main tracks is divided to form amain track section including the switch at the corresponding end of saidcrossover track, the combination comprising, a pair of insulated jointsone in each rail of said main track section at a point between the frogand the heel of the switch at its end of said crossover track, a jumperadjacent said pair of insulated joints one end of which is connectedwith the frog rail of said one main track on the side of said pair ofinsulated joints toward said switch and the other end of which isconnected with the other rail of said one main track on the oppositeside of said pair of insulated joints for arranging the rails of saidone main track in conjunction with said pair of insulated joints for amain track circuit for controlling traflic movements adjacent saidswitch, a third insulated joint in said crossover track outside of saidmain track and adjacent the heel of said switch, a track circuitincluding the rails of the section of said crossover track adjacent saidone main track, a main track circuit including the rails of said maintrack section, and trafiic governing means controlled by said trackcircuits.

3. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover trackinterconnecting two main tracks is divided into two sections insulatedfrom each other and extending in opposite directions from a mid point ofthe crossover, and in which one of said main tracks is divided to form amain track section including the switch at the corresponding end of saidcrossover track, the combination comprising, a pair of insulated jointsone in each rail of said main track section at a point between the frogand the heel of the switch at its end of said crossover track, a jumperadjacent said pair of insulated joints one end of which is connectedwith the frog rail of said one main track on the side of said pair ofinsulated joints toward said switch and the other end of which isconnected with the other rail of said one main track on the oppositeside of said pair of insulated joints, a third insulated joint in saidcrossover track outside of said main track and adjacent the heel of saidswitch, a fourth insulated joint in the rail of said crossover trackbetween the rails of said one main track and adjacent said frog, asecond jumper one end of which is connected with said rail of saidcrossover track adjacent and on the side of said fourth insulated jointin the opposite direction from said frog and the other end of which isconnected with said frog rail of said one main track adjacent and on theside of said pair of insulated joints toward said frog, a track circuitincluding the rails of the section of said crossover track adjacent saidone main track, a main track -cir cuit including the rails of said maintrack section, and traffic governing means controlled by said trackcircuits.

4. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover trackinterconnecting two main tracks is divided into two sections insulatedfrom each other and extending in opposite directions from a *mid pointof the crossover, the combination comprising, an insulated joint in therail of said crossover track between the rails of one of said maintracks and adjacent the frog of the associated track switch, a secondinsulated joint in the frog side of said one main track between the heeland the frog of said switch, a, jumper, one end of which is connectedwith said rail of said crossover track adjacent and on the side of saidfirst insulated joint in the opposite direction from said frog and theother end of which is connected with said frog side of said main trackadjacent and on the side of said second insulated joint toward saidfrog, a third insulated joint in the opposite rail of said crossovertrack adjacent the heel of said switch, means including said first andsecond insulated joints and said jumper for arranging the portion ofsaid frog side of said one main track between the heel and frog of saidswitch in series with other portions of said one main track for use incircuit means for controlling traific movements over said one maintrack, a track circuit including said jumper and the portion of saidmain track between said second insulated joint and said frog of saidswitch and also the rails of said crossover track between said thirdinsulated joint and said mid point of said crossover, a main trackcircuit in- M cluding said jumper and said portion of said one maintrack in series with other portions of said one main track adjacent saidswitch, and traflic governing means controlled by said track circuits.

5. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover trackinterconnecting two main tracks is divided into two sections insulatedfrom each other and extending in opposite directions from a mid point ofthe crossover, the combination comprising, an insulated joint in onerail of said crossover track adjacent the heel of the switch in one ofsaid main tracks, a second insulated joint in the opposite side of saidcrossover track between the rails of said one main track, a jumper oneend of which is connected with said opposite side of said crossovertrack adjacent and on the opposite side of said second insulated jointfrom the frog of said switch and the other end of which is connectedwith the frog side of said one main track between the frog and the heelof said switch, a track circuit including the rails of said crossovertrack from said first insulated joint to said mid point in series with aportion of said frog side of said one main track between said frog andsaid jumper and also including said jumper, a main track circuitincluding said jumper and the rails of said one main track adjacent saidswitch, and trafiic governing means controlled by said track circuits.

6. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover trackinterconnecting two main tracks is divided by a pair of insulated jointsone in each rail at a point between said main tracks, the combinationcomprising, a third insulated joint in one rail of said crossover trackadjacent the heel of the switch for one of said main tracks, a trackcircuit including the rails of said crossover track from said thirdinsulated joint to said pair of insulated joints, traffic governingmeans controlled by said track circuit, and means including a fourthinsulated joint in the rail of said crossover track between the rails ofsaid one main track together with a jumper connecting this rail of saidcrossover track adjacent said fourth insulated joint and on the oppositeside of said fourth insulated joint from the frog of said switch withthe frog rail of said one main track and also including a second pair ofinsulated joints one in each rail of said one connecting the stock railside of said one main track on the side of said second pair of insulatedjoints away from said switch with the opposite side of said one maintrack on the opposite side of said second pair of insulated joints forplacing all portions of the rails of said one main track in series witheach other adjacent said switch for use in a track circuit for said onemain track.

7. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover trackinterconnecting two main tracks is divided by a pair of insulated jointsone in each rail at a point between said main tracks, the combinationcomprising, a third insulated joint in one rail of said crossover trackadjacent main track between said jumper and the heel of said switchtogether with a, second jumper for the heel of the switch for one ofsaid main tracks, a track circuit including the rails of said crossovertrack from said third insulated joint to said pair of insulated joints,traific governing means controlled by said track circuit, and meansincluding a second pair of insulated joints one in each rail of said onemain track between the heel and frog of said switch together with ajumper adjacent said second pair of insulated joints one end of which isconnected with the stock rail side of said one main track on the side ofsaid secand pair of insulated joints away from said switch and the otherend of which is connected with the frog rail side of said one main trackon the side of said second pair of insulated joints away from said frogfor insulating the rails of said crossover track from each other andarranging the rails of said one main track for a main track circuitadjacent said switch.

8. In crossover protection apparatus in which a crossover trackinterconnecting two main tracks is divided by a pair of insulatedjoints, one in each rail at a point between said main tracks, thecombination comprising, a third insulated joint in one rail of saidcrossover track adjacent the heel of the switch for one of said maintracks,

a track circuit including the rails of said crossover track from saidthird insulated joint to said pair of insulated joints, trafiicgoverning means controlled by said track circuit, means including asecond pair of insulated joints one in each rail of said one main trackbetween the heel and frog for said switch together with a jumperadjacent said second pair of insulated joints interconnecting the railsof said one main track on opposite sides of said second pair ofinsulated joints for insulating the rails of said crossover track fromeach other and arranging the rails of said one main track for a maintrack circuit adjacent said switch, and means including a sixthinsulated joint in the rail of said crossover track between the rails ofsaid one main track adjacent said frog together with a jumper connectingthe rail of said crossover track adjacent said sixth insulated jointwith the frog rail of said one main track for arranging all parts of therails of said one main track in series with each other for said maintrack circuit.

ROBERT M. GILSON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Langdon Jan. 1, 1946Number

